Natural Flea Control for Pets
Why
should you use natural flea control for pets?
How about this for a reason...
“Caution:
Hazardous to humans and
domestic animals…  Avoid contact
with eyes, skin or clothing. Wash
thoroughly with soap and water after handling.”
We found this on the label of one of the first
flea control products on a major pet store’s website. Avoid contact
with domestic animals’ SKIN? WHAT? Isn’t that what the product is made
for?
It gets worse.
Survival of the fittest applies to
fleas as it does to all other living things. Those fleas that survive
the poison do so because they are resistant to it. Then they give birth
to more fleas that are also resistant to it. The poison also
weakens your dog. Since fleas are attracted to weak pets, making your
dog weaker with synthetic flea products only compounds the problem.
So what should you do?
If you do have a flea problem…
First, don’t feel badly. Natural flea control for
pets is one of the most common inquiries we receive – welcome to the
club!
Second,  keep to the schedule – weekly,
monthly, etc. as indicated - for the best (and least harmful)
results.
Note that the home mixtures and product
recommendations are NOT
meant for puppies. Puppies can develop more
severe problems related to fleas, so if your pet is less than 4 months
old you should consult your vet immediately. When using any products,
be sure to follow the directions closely.
How
to Tell if Your Dog Has Fleas
If you are unsure if your dog has fleas:
- Look closely at the base of your dog's hair,
especially around the neck, ears, legs and the base of their tail.
Fleas are small, black, quick-moving insects. Also look for flea dirt
(flea droppings).
- Place a damp paper towel on the floor and have
your dog stand on top of it. Then comb your dog with a flea
comb – if you see small
specks of black that turn red with moisture (flea dirt), you know your
dog has fleas.
| In their November 2000 report, the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recommended that the EPA ban
the use of an entire class of flea and tick control products – those
using organophosphates (OP). In the same report the NRDC endorses
natural flea control for pets.
The seven OP’s are chlorpyrifos, diazinon,
dichlorvos, malathion, naled, phosmet and tetrachlorvinphos.
Although not cited in the NRDC’s report,
also stay away from borax, borates, desiccants and rotenone.
Click here for the report’s list
of EPA registered pet products containing organophosphates insecticides
(about 2/3 of the way down the page).
|
(back to top)
Prevention:
Natural Flea Control for Pets Starts Here
Natural remedies for flea control should always take precedence over
chemical treatments. The easiest way to “stay natural” is to discourage
fleas by keeping your dog healthy through:
 |
Taylor Tips!
I eat right, stay clean, exercise and get regular check-ups. Even with
my shaggy hair, I've never had a single flea! |
Let’s review how else you can prevent fleas for
both indoor and outdoor pets…
Indoor Pets
On a weekly basis, you should thoroughly clean
your dog and home. For your dog, see our recommendation at
the bottom of the page for the best
flea and tick shampoo.  Vacuum
and clean the floors, especially where your dog sleeps. To kill any
unseen developing fleas, wash your dog
bed in soapy, hot water, rinse
in cold water then dry on high heat. Adding 10 drops of eucalyptus or
lavender oil to the wash will act as natural flea repellent.
You should also steam clean your carpets at the
beginning of flea season (spring) or whenever you are starting your
prevention efforts. Also try a Natural Flea and Tick Spray
or fine milled powder for more
aggressive flea
prevention.
Natural Flea Repellents
-Clary sage
-Eucalyptus
-Fennel
-Garlic
-Lavender
-Peppermint
-Rosemary
-Rue
-Wormwood
-Yeast
-Yellow Dock |
Outdoor Pets
Follow the same advice for outdoor pets, in
addition to keeping a weekly lawn care schedule: Mow your lawn to allow
sunlight to reach heat and kill flea larvae and water your lawn to
drown fleas.
Encourage ants (!), or at least don’t try to do
away with them through pesticides as they serve as a natural flea
control
for pets by eating the developing fleas.
Finally, use an All-in One home and yard protector
to round out your outdoor flea
control efforts.
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Mild to Moderate Flea
Problem
If you already have a flea problem, try these tips first in
addition to the "Prevention: Natural Flea
Control for Pets Starts Here" recommendations above.
 Daily
(or at least twice per week)
Flea
comb
your dog at least twice per week,
possibly daily, paying special attention to the head, neck,
back and rear-end.
As fleas come off your dog and onto the
comb, dip the comb in hot, soapy water then rinse in cool, clean water.
When done, pour soapy water down the drain (not
outside).
Next, search your dog's skin for any flea bites. The skin in
and around the area of a bite may have a small bump or appear red or
swollen.
If your dog has been bitten, first clean the effected area with a safe
and natural solution. Clenzor from Native Remedies works
great.
Once the area is cleaned, observe your dog to find out if there is any
discomfort around the bites. Are they scratching or biting at
the area? If so, you can ease their discomfort with a natural
cream such as FleaDerm.
Weekly
- Take extra measures when vacuuming.
Since fleas are small enough to sometimes
survive being vacuumed (tough little buggers), vacuum cleaner bags
should be burned or frozen in an airtight bag before disposal.
- Give your dog a bath with natural pet shampoo
specially made using a natural flea control recipe.
 Make sure that the shampoo you use is especially
made for pets and
contains only natural ingredients.
For added protection, you can add peppermint,
lavender, clary sage or lemon to your dog shampoo if it does not
already contain it. The proper
amount to add of each is 10 drops/100 ml.
Natural Flea Control Recipe
- Combine one part of as many of the
following powdered herbs as possible:
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Fennel
- Yellow Dock
- Wormwood
- Rue
- Put mixture in shaker-top jar
- Apply the flea powder to your dog’s fur
by brushing backwards and sprinkling it into the base of the hair
(especially focus on the neck, back and belly).
- Immediately take your dog outside so the
vacating fleas don’t wind up on your floor.
- Use this natural flea control recipe as
frequently as necessary, up to many times per week for more serious
infestations.
Note: Some herbal flea powders contain natural pyrethrins. While this
is not a good flea killer, it is still a good natural flea control for
pets as it does a great job warding them off. |
Twice Per Year
- Sprinkle unrefined, natural diatomaceous earth
anywhere you cannot clean or the vacuum cannot reach. It is harmless to
humans and pets, but it kills fleas by drying out their skin.
- Do not use it directly on your pet. As with
any fine powder, inhaling it can irritate the nasal passages.
- Important note: Do NOT use the diatomaceous
earth made for swimming pool filters.
Other Natural Remedies for Flea Control:
- Add plenty of garlic and yeast (brewer’s or
nutritional) to your dog’s diet
- There
are mixed reviews about how well this
works, but those who support it feel that it works best with healthy
dogs.
- Apply a skin tonic created using a natural flea
control for pets recipe. You can either use the herbal
defense spray
recommended at the bottom of the page or create your own. In
addition to its use as a flea repellent,
the renowned Juliette de Bairacli Levy recommends this lemon skin tonic
for use as a treatment
for mange and as a general skin toner:
Juliette de Bairacli Levy’s Lemon Skin
Tonic
- Thinly slice a lemon along with the rind
- Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water,
then let it steep overnight
- Sponge the solution onto your dog’s skin
and let it dry
- Apply as frequently as daily
|
- Natural flea control for pets made with
limonene and other citrus extracts is okay for adult dogs but should
NOT be
 used with puppies as it can be toxic,
especially when combined with other flea products.
- Repellent herbs
- Lavender – sprinkle around bedding or use a
lavender pillow
- Plant fennel, sage or wormwood near the
kennel
- Essential Oil Flea Collars
- They do not kill fleas; they only repel
them. If a more severe infestation has occurred or if your dog has been
diagnosed with flea
allergy dermatitis, essential oil flea collars may
not be effective.
(back to top)
Major or Chronic Flea
Problem
Natural remedies for flea control
work just as well as the methods containg toxic ingredients and
pesticides. Many researchers have developed excellent
combinations of natural insect repellants for use on your pet, in your
home and yard.
Here are details about what is contained in some of the products along
with some other ideas to consider:
- Have your carpets treated annually with
anti-flea mineral salt. This gets away from natural flea control for
pets, so discuss the level of toxicity of individual products with the
specific service provider that you use. Different salts can have
different levels of toxicity.
- If the problem is totally out of control and
you have tried all of the natural options
below, consider an insect
growth regulator (IGR). Send your dog away on the same day to be
cleaned to be sure that you get rid of any freeloaders.
- Even though they are not natural, IGR’s are
low chemical, safe and one of the most effective products out there.
They work by preventing the flea from
 developing into an adult.
- Parasitic nematodes are small worms that eat
flea larvae. Since fleas have a very limited range of mobility, these
are especially good if fleas are coming from a small patch in the yard
or garden.
- Electric flea traps emit heat to attract fleas
to sticky paper and are also effective for a small, localized flea
problem.
(back to top)
Best
Natural Flea Control Treatments and Products
If you have a flea problem or are trying to avoid
one, you need to combat the problem on three fronts:
- Your dog
- Your home
- Your yard
1. For your dog,
first you need to figure out
whether or not they have fleas. Use a flea comb as instructed
in the "how to tell if your dog has fleas"
section above.
If your dog has been bitten, first clean the affected area with
Clenzor. If your dog is still scratching or biting, you can
ease their discomfort by applying a natural cream called FleaDerm.
Whether your dog has fleas or not, wash them with the all-natural flea
deterring shampoo and conditioner listed below and follow that with the
herbal defense spray. Shampoo at least once every two weeks,
more
if necessary, and apply the defense spray before any trips to the park
or hikes in the woods.
By using the correct preventative methods, your dog will be much less
likely to harbor fleas or ticks.
Flea Bite Cleaning and Soothing
Cream
 |
FleaDerm for Flea Bite Dermatitis
- from $34.95
FleaDerm is a natural soothing cream to relieve common flea bites on
dogs and cats.
FleaDerm Benefits:
- Support skin health naturally
- Reduce scratching
- Soothe the skin surrounding common flea
bites in pets
|
Flea & Tick Mist
|
Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense
Spray for Dogs and Cats - Price
$12.99 for 8 oz. bottle
This
herbal defense spray is the perfect way to prevent fleas, ticks,
mosquitoes and other pesky varmints from invading your dog or home.
It contains ONLY natural ingredients posing no toxic threat
to
any member of your family.
This spray uses ingredients like
lemongrass and citronella to deter bites and is great for use before a
hike in the woods or a trip to the dog park. Essential oils will also
help to soothe the skin and make it feel super soft!
Many families with dogs use this spray and find that it works very
well! Click
here to read experiences and reviews.
|
Flea & Tick Shampoo
|
Only
Natural Pet Herbal Defense Shampoo & Conditioner
This
70% Organic and all Natural Shampoo and Conditioner provide you and
your dog with the best of flea protection plus skin and coat health.
These products will keep your dogs coat clean and shiny without any of
those harsh chemicals or pesticides.
The shampoo uses
natural herbal extracts such as neem oil and lemongrass to fend away
pests along with ingredients to support skin health like aloe and
jojoba oil.
The reviews are in...and these products do the trick, the natural way! Click
here to read reviews.
|
2.
For your home,
Fleabusters Rx will do an excellent job covering your carpets and
upholstery in a safe and natural way.
Larger Area Treatment
|
Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus
Price
is $37.99 for 3 lbs
A
totally natural yet extremely effective way to keep your home flea
free! This unique home flea control utilizes the flea
repelling
power of borate powder which has a very minimal effect on people and
pets.
This
is a very fine milled powder that clings to carpets and upholstery
providing long lasting protection. It
is extremely safe and non-toxic!
To read the excellent reviews of the product, Click Here
|
Specific Area Treatment
|
Sentry Natural
Defense Flea & Tick Household Spray -
Price is $15.99 per bottle
This
completely natural flea and tick repelling spray is an effective option
for your home, car or clothing and the spray will be effective for up
to 4 weeks.
This spray is non-oily and will not stain.
It's active ingredient is d-limonene along with other natural
repellants. This spray works on all types of pests including
ants, spiders and beetles. For indoor use only.
Click here to read reviews of this
household spray.
|
3.
For your yard
and home
we recommend Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy because its all
natural and safe for use indoor or outdoors.
|
Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy
- Price $14.99 for 8 oz power
This
powder is the ultimate weapon against fleas! It's called the
All-in-one treatment becuase it kills fleas in your home and yard and
is even safe for use directly on your pet.
It's a non-toxic natural compound that has been used to kill
insects for centuries and its active ingredient, diatomaceous, is
widely used for pest control in agriculture and gardening.
This
is so safe that it can be ingested by humans with no side effects.
It comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee
Click Here to read customer
reviews of this product
|
For additional research, search our site...
Also
see...
My
Online Vet MD to ask our veterinarians your specific questions
Dog Skin Conditions and Disorders
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Finding
the Right Veterinarian
Pet
Insurance Reviews
Back to Common
Dog Health Problems from Natural Flea Control for Pets
Back to
the Organic Pet Digest
Dog Care Home Page
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Natural
Flea Control for Pets References 
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